Ketodimethylperhydrophenanthrene-carboxylic acid nitriles



Patented May 15, 1951 KETODIMETHYYLPERHYDROPHENAN- THRENE-CARBOXYLIC ACID NITRILES Karl Miescher, Riehcn, and Jean-Rene Billeter,

Basel, Switzerland, assignors to Ciba Pharmaceutical Products, Inc., Summit, N. J.

No Drawing. Application September 26, 1949, Se-

rial No. 117,954. In Switzerland October 8,

The present invention relates to l-keto-2,13- dimethyl-perhydrophenanthrene 2 carboxylic acid nitriles of the general formula H3O CH AAE The new carboxylic acid nitriles may contain further substituents, especially in the 7-position a hydroxyl or a substituent convertible into such 1 a group, for example, an etherifiedor 'esterified hydroxyl group and also a halogen atom, for example, in the l4-positi0n. The invention is more especially concerned with the 1-keto-7-hydroxy- 2,13 dimethyl 14 perhydrophenanthrene 2- carboxylic acid nitrile and 1-keto-7-hydroxy-l4- chloro-2,13 dimethyl perhydrophenanthrene- Z-carboxylic acid nitrile and the esters and ethers of these nitriles, for example, their acetates, propionates or benzoates.

The new compounds are obtained by treating a 1-keto-2,13-dimethyl perhydrophenanthrene with a halogenating agent and reacting the resulting halide with a metal cyanide.

As starting materials there are used more especially 1-keto-2,l3 dimethyl perhydrophenanthrene, which contain in the 7-position a hydroxyl or a substituent convertible into such a group, for example, an etherified or esterified hydroxyl group. Also very valuable are those starting materials which contain, in addition to the said substituents and a hydrogen atom in the 2-position, a halogen atom advantageously in the 14-position. Illustrative examples of starting materials according to the invention are l-keto- '7 hydroxy 2,13 dimethyl perhydrophenanthrene and l-keto-7-hydroxy-14-ch1oro-2,13-dimethyl-perhydrophenanthrene and ethers or esters of these compounds, for example, their acetates, propionates or benzoates. These starting materials can be obtained, for example, by the oxidation of sterins and the further conversions by known methods of the compounds so obtained.

For the halogenation there are used especially halogens, such as bromine, in which case it is of advantage to work in an inert solvent, such as ether.

In the process of the invention the resulting halide, for example, a bromide, is treated with a I 40mins. (01.260-464) acetone.

2 1 metal cyanide, preferably an alkali metalcyanide such as potassium cyanide. This stage of the process is also carried out with advantage in a solvent. Thus, for example, an aqueous solution of a metal cyanide may be added to the halide in a diluent such as acetone or methanol.

The nitriles obtained by the present process are valuable intermediate products for the manufacture of therapeutically active compounds.

The following examples illustrate the invention, the parts being by weight:

Example 1 1-keto-7-acetoxy 2,13 dimethyl 14 transperhydrophenanthrene-2-carboxylic acid nitrile of the formula 5.5 parts of bromine are added in the course of 30 minutes to a solution of 10 parts of l-keto- 7-acetoxy 2,13 dimethyl-14-trans perhydrophenanthrene (having a melting point at 144 C.) in 250 parts of absolute ether, initially at room temperature and subsequently while cooling with ice. After the bromination, the whole is mixed with 200 parts of ice-water, the ethereal solution is washed with an ice-cooled solution of sodium bicarbonate, dried and evaporated, and the residue is recrystallized from methanol or 1 keto-2-bromo 7 acetoxy-2,13-dimethyl l4-trans-perhydrophenanthrene (having a decomposition point of 134 C.) is obtained in a yield of per cent.

5 parts of 1-keto-2-bromo-7-acetoXy-2,13-di methyl-14-trans-perhydrophenanthrene are dissolved in 50 parts of acetone and mixed with a solution of 4.5 parts of potassium cyanide in 12 parts of water. After 20 minutes 250 parts of water are added, whereby 1-keto-7-acetoxy-2,13- dimethyl 14 trans-perhydrophenanthrene-2- carboxylic acid nitrile is precipitated. The latter is separated by filtering with suction, and melts at -111 C. after recrystallization from aqueous alcohol;

When this nitrile is treated with a hydrolyzing agent there is obtained the 1-keto-7-hydroxy- 2,13 dimethyl-14-trans-perhydrophenanthrene- Z-carboxylic acid nitrile.

In lieu of the 7-acetoxy-compound as used in the foregoing example, compounds having other acyloxy groups in the 'l-position, .such "as propionyloxy or benzoyloxy groups "or a free hydroxyl'group may be used as starting material, whereby the 1-keto-7-propionoxy-, benzoyloxy-, and 1-keto-7-hydroxy-2,13-dimethyl 14-trans-perhydrophenanthrene-52 carboxylic acid nitrile, respectively, areobtained.

In the same manner, ethers,=-especial1y the-Z- alkoxy-compounds, such as the 1-fke,to--7.methoxy-, 1-keto-7-ethoxy-, 1-keto-7-propyloxytor 1 keto 7 benzy1oxy-2,l3-dimethyl-l4etransperhydrophenanthrene-2-carboxylic :aeid nitrile may be prepared by starting from the corresponding 1-keto-7-methoxy-, 1-keto-7-ethoxy-, 1-keto-7-propy1oxyor 1-ket0-7 -benzyloxy-2,1'3- dimethyl-14-trans-perhydrophenanthrene. The latter rmay be;prepared -in amanner known as suchzbyzconvertingg'the"Lhydroxy compound into theflshalogen-compounds and which in-.turn are treated with ;,an appropriate alcoholate.

Example 2 ,l-keto --7 acetoxy-14-trans-ch1or,o2,l3adimethyl-perhydrophenanthrene-2ecarboxylic acid nitrile of-theiformula molt-0 CEN 4 decomposition at C. after recrystallization from a mixture of acetone and methanol. The yield amounts to 8.5 parts.

8.5 parts of 1-keto-2-brom0-7-acetoxy-14- trans-cchioro 42,13 dimethylperhydlophenanthrene rare gsu$pended in .60 parts :O'f methanol, and mixed with a solution of 12 parts of potassicyanide in 20 parts of Water. After 20 minutes the product is precipitated with water, and the;precipitate-is eparated with suction and recrystallized-froma=-mixture of acetone and meth- =ano1. There are :obtained 7 parts of l-keto-l- :acetoxy-vl datr ans ch1oro-2,13-dimethyl perhy- ;drophenanthrene-.-2:carboxylic acid nitrile melt- .ingat 201C.

The31rlgeto#7=acetoxy-14-trans-chloro-2,13-di- 'methyl perhydrpphenanthrene used as starting material may be obtained by saturating at a low temperature the double bond of the A -l-keto- 7 acetoxy-2,13-dimethy1 dodecahydrophenan threne with hydrogen chloride dissolvedin a mixture ofzethyl acetatenand chloroform.

Having thus zdescribedthe invention, whatis claimed is:

1. A 1-keto-2,13-dimethyl perhydrophenanthrene-Z-carboxylic acid nitrile carrying in the 7-position a member selected from the class consisting of hydroxy, acyloxy, alkoxy and aryloxy groups.

2. A l-keto-l4-halogeno2g13rdimethy1 perhydrophenanthrene-2-carboxy1ic acid nitrile carrying in the 7-positiona,-member selected from thelclass consisting of hydroxy, acyloxy, alkoxy andary xsr u I3; 1 .--.tketo'w'lacetoxy2gl3-dimethyl+14transper ydrophenanthreneqecarboxylic acid. nitrile.

"A l -lketo7-acetoxy-l4rtrans ch1oro-2,1" Tdimethylrperhydrophenanthrene -21carboxylic acid nitrile.

IKARLMIESCHER.

JEANFRENE BILLETERL REFERENCES CITED l lThec'following.references are of record in the file of this patent:

,Johnson:. J Am..'Chem. Soc., V01. 67, pp. 2274- 221511955). 

1. A 1-KETO-2,13-DIMETHYL - PERHYDROPHENANTHRENE-2-CARBOXYLIC ACID NITRILE CARRYING IN THE 7-POSITION A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF HYDROXY, ACYLOXY, ALKOXY AND ARYLOXY GROUPS. 